206 A. EH. Verrill—The Bermuda Islands. 618 
“ The Deposition of Mr. Joseph Ming of Cooper's Island, being 
the south east point of the Island of Bermuda, who deposeth and 
sayth:” “That there hath been ever since his time a great discourse 
in these Islands, by the antient Inhabitants, that a great treasure 
hath been hid in this said Coopers Island and likewise that the marks 
and signe of it were three yallow wood trees, that stood tryangular, 
upon one of w’ch was a plate of brass nailed, and on the other were 
severall names or letters cutt thereon, and that this depont with some 
others to his assistance did about two years since endeavour to dis- 
cover this treasure by digging in a peece of ground lying in the 
center of this tryangle of trees, for five or six dayes, but mett with 
noe success therein, soe grew soe tired and left off, not being able 
nor willing to bestowe any longer time or paines, therein, although 
the ground was very easye to digg, and that the place they digged 
was foure or five yards square. And this depont further sayth that 
by the report of old standers on this Island about fifty yeares since, 
one Capt. Seymour did cutt down one of the three trees aforesaid, 
on which was the plate and cross, which was designed by the said 
Capt'n Seymour to be sent home for England, to the proprietors of 
these Islands, which tree was carryed to the water side and fastened 
with a rope to a boate and towing it away the rope broke and the 
tree sunke immediately and could not be recovered without too 
much trouble and charge, and still remaines where it sunke, and hath 
been often seen by severall persons (and this depont hath seen the 
said tree within four or five years). And this depont further sayth 
that his grandfather had an extraordinary confidence of finding 
great treasures here from the satisfacon of the tradition and markes 
here found, upon which about sixty yeares since this deponts grand- 
father* went for England and made his application to the proprie- 
tors to purchase this said Coopers Island and carried with him a 
considerable quantity of Ambergreece and presented the proprietors 
with a good part thereof, upon which the proprietors offered him 
* His grandfather was Christopher Carter. 
+ Governor Butler, about 1624, gave an account of this transaction which is 
quite different, as follows: 
““He [Carter] at his time by infinite importunitie, in recompence thereof, 
received of the Company in gift for three lives (who found that he began to 
undertake some dangerous courses, by the counsell of some wiser than himselfe) 
a small Iland called Cocpers; but with such cuninge conditions, one whereof 
was to keepe continually a certaine number of resident men upon it, to be upon 
all occasions at the service of Pembroke Fort, which stands ther (the forte with 
the appurtenances being neverthelesse excepted from him) as let the world 
knowe, bothe how well they could laye about for themselves, and with what a 
foole they had then to deale withall.” 
